Day 6: Settling In

A full 8 days have gone by since I started work, and I'm finally settling into a routine here in Newport. For those of you who are crunched for time, I'll give you the Sparknotes of my first week.

1. Corona del Mar is absolutely beautiful. I've adventured out of the house almost every night just to walk to a new place, and it's been so peaceful and restorative. I definitely miss being around friends though, so if you're reading this post and within 2 hours of Newport, you have an open invitation to come hang with me down here anytime. Seriously guys, I can only spend so much time with Sydney the Australian Shephard...
2. Work is going better, and the early snafu with my coding deficiencies turned into me spending hours learning the basics of VBA, and things are coming along quite nicely. Surprisingly, I'm starting to find it really fun and challenging, and totally nerding out about all the ways that it makes Excel way more efficient. Nobody tell Jen, though...
3. Being home for Memorial Day weekend was really special. Catching up with friends I hadn't seen in almost two years and getting to spend quality time with my grandparents was great. It's perfect being so close to LC, while still being able to adventure out and explore the Orange County area during the week.

If you're still reading, I applaud you, so as a reward I'll share some of my lower moments of the week so you can laugh along with me. 

1. I decided one night last week to go on a romantic walk along the beach (by myself). After the sun went down, I got back home and realized my keys had fallen out of my pocket somewhere, so I retraced my steps all the way back to the beach and by the grace of God found my keys buried in the sand. Crisis averted.
2. I bought a pair of tight, skinny, green pants last week. The low moment? I wore them. Multiple times. Go Irish, I guess. 
3. I lost to my dad in racquetball over the weekend. No further explanation necessary.

That's all I've got for now! I guess I was in the mood for lists tonight, after looking at spreadsheets for nearly 8 hours today. If you're reading this, that means that I miss you. Summers are so bittersweet. While it is great to get away from the grind of school and step out of the boat, it's tough being away from home, and Notre Dame, and all the people that fill up those places. I'll be praying for each of you in your individual journeys, and I would ask that you do the same for me! And before you ask, yes there was a shark attack in Corona del Mar on Sunday, yes it was on the very same beach that I had walked on a few days before, and yes Mom, I'm fine. Blessings to you all!

D

Day 1: Internship on the Pacific

The typical first-day of an internship: Walk cautiously through the doors, meet your supervisor, get your picture taken, shake some hands, find the cafe, sit in your chair for the first time and pray it's ergonomic, and try to take in what will be your life for the next 10 weeks of the summer. Mine followed this trajectory to a t, until I heard the 3 words that made me feel more inadequate than any "You're too pale to be from California" or "Your face is much fatter than Justin's" ever could. My boss shook my hand, made small talk, then looked me in the eye and asked "Can you code?" Now, for those who are unfamiliar with the meaning of this inquiry, the question could also have been asked, "Can you add any value to our company, or will we be sticking you with research and data entry for the duration of your internship?" The short answer to his question? No. The long answer to his question? Nope. Am I being dramatic? Probably. I doubt that my lack of knowledge within Python or VBA renders me completely useless to my team. However, it was still frustrating that they expected me to come to the table with a skill that I wasn't even aware applied to the position. Do I know any other languages? Sure! Pig Latin, Spanish, Accounting, Twin, I know plenty of languages! Does that include C++, or Java, or SQL? Not so much. But if I've learned nothing in my short time on this Earth, it's that coming into a position with no background knowledge, but a relentless desire to learn, can often lead to tremendous personal and professional growth. Oh jeez, now I've gotten all "motivational speaker" on you.  

Overall, I couldn't be happier with how my summer has started. How can I complain, after all? My cubicle overlooks the Pacific Ocean. For my Midwest friends, that refers to the large body of water on the Western side of our country. Quite a spectacle. My housing situation includes a furry dog, a quaint room with pink covers, and a 5 minute walk to a nearly-private beach. I can't guarantee that I'll come back to campus tanned and toned, but I CAN guarantee that I will have seen enough people who fit this description that I'll return to campus more connected to my Southern Californian roots than ever. Though I joke, it really is good to be back in the homeland. Stay tuned for more on my adventures in Newport, and to my friend in South America reading this, adios. 

D